In 1887, a 16-year-old boy left his home country of Sweden for the promise of New York City. He arrived with only five dollars in his pocket, unable to speak a word of English. His name? John W. Nordstrom.
Nordstrom
In 1887, a 16-year-old boy left his home country of Sweden for
the promise of New York City. He arrived with only five dollars in his pocket,
unable to speak a word of English. His name? John W. Nordstrom.
The first years in the land of opportunity were hard. John was eager to invest his money. He had befriended a man while in Alaska, Carl Wallin, who owned a shoe repair shop in downtown Seattle. It wasn't long before the two decided to go into partnership and open a shoe store together.
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The company soon grew to become the largest independent shoe chain in the United States. By 1960, Nordstrom had eight stores in Washington and Oregon, and the downtown Seattle store became the largest shoe store in the country.
By the early 1960's, the company was looking for new ways to spread its wings. Venturing into the clothing market, Nordstrom purchased Best Apparel, a Seattle-based clothing store, in 1963.
Three years later, Nordstrom purchased a Portland, Oregon fashion retail store and merged it with their existing Portland shoe store. For the first time, customers were greeted with a selection of both shoes and fine apparel under a new store name: Nordstrom Best. Men's clothing and children's wear were added in 1966, expanding the store to meet the wardrobe needs of the entire family.
| By 1975, the company had expanded into Alaska, and the first Nordstrom Rack was opened in Seattle as a clearance center for full-line store merchandise. Three years later, the company moved into the competitive California market; and by 1988, Nordstrom had made the big move to the East Coast with the opening of a beautiful new store in Virginia. |
While Nordstrom was growing nationally, it focused on catering to customers' needs, individually. Instead of categorizing departments by merchandise, Nordstrom created fashion departments that fit individuals' lifestyles.
Today, Nordstrom has grown from one downtown Seattle shoe store into a nationwide fashion specialty chain with renowned services, generous size ranges and a selection of the finest apparel, shoes and accessories for the entire family.
The company's philosophy has remained unchanged for more than 100 years since its establishment by John W. Nordstrom in 1901: offer the customer the best possible service, selection, quality and value.
